MANUKAU POLL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19134, 1 October 1936, Page 5

MANUKAU POLL

LABOUR RETAINS SEAT MR. OSBORNE ELECTED PARTY MAJORITY LOWER CANDIDATES’ SPEECHES , , (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The Labour Party retained the Manukau seat in Parianielnt at the byelection to-day, -when the Government candidate, Mr. A. G. Osborne, was returned with a majority of 4411 over the National Party candidate, Mr. F. W.'Doidge. The result of the voting was:— A. G. Osborne (Labour) . . 8241 F. W. Doidge (National) .. ">B3O Majority for Osborne .. 4411 -The number of votes cast was slightly lower than those recorded at the general election last November. To-da.v a total of 12,071 electors exercised their votes, compared with 13,384 a,t the general election, when Mr. W. J. Jordan gained 70.22 per cent of the votes east. Mr. Osborne to-day polled 08.10" per cent ; of the total votes'recorded.'' There are 174 absentee votes and 370 postal votes yet to come. There were 17 polling places in the electorate, and Mr. Osborne obtained majorities at 15 of these. Loud cheering by large crowds which had congregated outside the Ouehunga Post- Office greeted the announcement of the final result, and the appearance of the two candidates in the front porch, of the Post Office was the signal for .even greater applause. THANKS FOE SUPPORT Addressing the crowd, Mr. Osborne said he wished to express his sincere thanks to the people of Manukau. The issue before the people of New Zealand, so far as the election was concerned, was whether the people of Manukau endorsed the policy of the Government or not. “The result,” he said, “proves conclusively to me, and I believe to the whole of New Zealand, that the people of Manukau are desirous of having more legislation bf the kind already passed by the Government. • I do not look on the victory as a personal one.” :y ‘‘ I join you in hearty congratulations to Mr. Osborne,” saiu Mr. Doidge. He added that his party had managed to reduce the Labour majority by about 2000 votes. 7 The voting at the. last two general elections for the Manukau seat was as follows: — 1935 POLL W. J. Jordan (Labour) . *.. 9345 H. J. Wiley (National) .. 2943 H. Thornlev (Democrat) ~ 1020 Majority for Jordan .. G 402 1931 POLL W. J.. Jordan. (Labour) ... ■ 7401 S. Rickards (Coal.-Reform) 4007 Majority for Jordan .. 3394 ’ PRIME MINISTER’S VIEW ENDORSEMENT OF POLICY DOUBTS BY MR. FORBES “MISGIVINGS” EVIDENT (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. “If the result of the Manukau byelection is not a clear and emphatic endorsement of the Labour Government's policy and the practice of it since assuming office, then I am not a judge of the political feeling of this country,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, to-night.

“The figures,’ ’ he continued, “tell their own story. “There were fewer votes against the Labour candidate on this occasion than against Mr. W. J. Jordan at the general election. If any person likes to look on such a result as’U hollow victory, then they are welcome to such rejoicing."

Mr. Savage said the interest appeared to 'be outstanding, irt view of the fact that a by-election never aroused such interest as a general election.. It should not be overlooked that the successful candidate was making his first appearance in the electorate, although he had proved an able campaigner in another Auckland electorate. Moreover, Mr. Osborne followed Mr. Jordan, who was one of the oldest, most skilful, and bestliked members of the Labour Party in the Dominion, which emphasised the appeal of Mr. Jordan and the Labour Party in the district. FOREGONE CONCLUSION

“The poll provides evidence that the electors of Manukau have some misgivings as to the wisdom of the Government’s policy,’’ said the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes. The result was a foregone conclusion, added Mr. Forbes. " An examination of the figures recorded at the general election last year was interesting, as they showed that the Labour Party then received 9345 votes. There were then two candidates opposed to the National Government, and the poll against that Government was 10,365. At the byelection, the vote against, the National Party was 8241. Apart from absentee votes to come, the National Party had, therefore, received an increase of nearly 900 votes over the votes in 1935. “It is true that the Labour Party

has elected its candidate," said Mr.

Forbes, “but it is also evident that , .the support of Labour in one of its strongholds has been shaken in spite of the almost frenzied appeals from the Prime Minister, his party and the Labour press for a majority greater tilin'Mr, Jordan’s. The electors of jf'gibukau have not yef had time to feel th'e.fuH effects of the Government’s measures in the increasing cost of living and in restricting personal liberty."